Hi everyone!
Nice to know you've all been checking up on me! Wow... I mean, practically six months ago, I was just another fanfic reader, marvelling at the authors and their stories. And now... Those same authors are reviewing me! It feels wierd, that's for sure.
By the way, something's wrong with chapter seven. Nothing much, but whenever I replace it, for some reason it ends up the same... You know that part near the end where Leila's reflecting on the difference between trees and reality? Well, that was actually supposed to be 'dreams and reality'. I know full well that you probably worked that out for yourselves, but I'm sort of kicking myself. Why on Earth did I type in trees?
Oh well. By the way, I'm very sorry to say that with school these chapters will be coming in slower. I'm guessing maybe once a month or every two months. But fear not, I AM NOT GIVING UP ON THIS FIC!!! (So you don't need to worry, people!).
Actually, one of the reasons why it was recommended I put this on fanfiction.net was so I COULDN'T chicken out of it halfway through (at least, not without feeling guilty and having my friends give me those 'I'm so disappointed but I'll support your decision' looks. They make me feel really bad....). You see, this is actually my first proper fic, I had lots of ideas, which I mentioned to my friends, but when they (You all better be reading this fic, btw. You know who you are!) Suggested I make a proper fic, I tended to go all nervous. But now, well, I couldn't give it up. Reason no.1 - It's fun writing it. Reason no.2 - The reviews make me smile. A lot. Reason no.3 - supportive friends who are skilled with the guilt-trip weapon.
Okay. Now for the excuses.
Everything was going fine until my other computer went DEAD.
And then this computer couldn't do word pad.
And then my file got deleted (don't ask) and then I had to start all over.
So in case you were wondering why this took so long...
So, anyway, I just wanted to let everyone know that, while I AM working on this fic, I'm a very busy little girl at the moment, what with school, sports, school, mainly school, and what little social life I have interfering at the moment. So, while I will update, it'll only be once a month or every two months or so. It sucks, but I thought I'd just warn you. It's good to know people are still reading, and I'm pretty glad you've been waiting for this chapter. Of course, the holidays are coming, so my writing should be picking up... But isn't. Stupid half-yearly's...stupid yearly's. Stupid school...
Hey, I've just noticed that I haven't gotten a flame yet! That's so cool!
And once more, I'd like to thank everyone for so patiently waiting, and sending me such nice encouraging reviews! You'd be amazed what it does to my ego ^^
By the way, I'm really sorry this took so long...let's just say things have been extra-busy. But I'm just warning you that my updates will be somewhat erratic.
Again, I'm really, really REALLy sorry.
Um... Now. What should I rant about?
Oh! Did you like my gundam??? Granted, I didn't describe it too well, but if it's not your favourite...well, shame on you! And even if you don't like it, you must (at least) admit that it's the cutest! And cuteness beats destructive abilities any day!
Oh, btw:
~ is Scene change. Could be change of scene OR flashback. Sorry if it's confusing, but you can usually figure out which one's which. ^^
Disclaimer - All characters that do not belong to me - well, they don't belong to me. This includes those from Sailor Moon, Gundam Wing, and whatever else.
Anyway, on with the story!
CHAPTER 9
"My apologies, Madam P," Quatre said, "It's just that your gundam is - quite unique...We weren't really expecting something so..."
"Girly?" Wufei interjected. "It was a doll! A porcelain doll! What do you expect from us?"
"I thought it was sorta cute, actually." Duo mused out loud.
Silence.
"What? I did!" He said defensively.
"And I have to admit, the idea of stuffed toy explosives was quite intriguing." Trowa added contemplatively. "What was that energy disk she threw at the dolls?"
"Her hat."
He blinked. "...I see. Her staff had a unique design also."
"It uses an electro-magnetic pulse to create a form of electricity that can be used in battle."
"I think," Quatre said nervously, "Trowa was referring to the fact it um..."
P sighed. "Was a white rod wrapped in various stems with flowers sprouting randomly, tipped with what looked to be a gold outlined rose pink love heart with wings on either side?"
Noin threw up her hands. "Heero, just finish the brief." She said, exasperated.
Heero barely resisted a tiny smirk threatening to steal over his face. True, he had been just as affronted by the gundam as the others, but watching their reactions now was...amusing.
Quatre sighed as Heero outlined the ambush. They were currently in a debriefing about the mission. It seemed his colleagues were just as determined to find out about the newest gundam as Madam P was to not tell.
He himself was just as interested as the others, though for different reasons. If what P had stated was correct that had been the pilot's first real mission. Not only had he...had the pilot done well, but the gundam appearing out of nowhere made him wonder about it's true capabilities.
That, and Duo's words.
No boy would willingly pilot a gundam with such a...feminine design. A girl on the other hand...
Reflecting, he didn't see why not. True, it wasn't likely for such a thing, but it wouldn't be the first time. After all, wasn't Meiran - Wufei's late wife - the first pilot of Altron? Wasn't that why Wufei had affectionately termed it 'Nataku' after her?
And it wasn't just that. What about Leila? When they were in Tokyo, Duo had told him she lived alone. She confirmed that herself when he asked her. Suddenly she was adopted, moved to colony L1, given free run of the base and assigned bodyguards.
All coinciding with the new threat.
And then the gundam. He was sure, when P was talking during the battle, that she almost said 'she' instead of 'he' once, when referring to the pilot. And she always avoided the subject whenever he could. And frankly, he couldn't really picture the woman training a boy. For some reason, he just couldn't.
Plus, the red hair and green eyes on the gundam were a bit of a giveaway.
Quatre always considered himself a fairly smart person. He was definitely smart enough not to mention his suspicions to his friends. It wasn't that they weren't smart enough to work it out, but they'd grown used to dealing with such coincidences in their line of work. Like it was always coincidence that Relena managed to somehow waylay Heero before he went on a mission - Fate's way, as Duo put it, of punishing their non-talkative friend for no particular reason.
In fact, his suspicions could be justified, or they could be a whole lot of coincidences, but if the others knew...
An image suddenly rose in his mind, Leila walking down a long, dark hallway as Trowa silently stalked her, Heero and Wufei hiding in two wings, respective gun and sword held ready, waiting for her to pass by...And Duo, grinning manically after having rigged the entire hallway with explosives, patiently wating outside with the control in hand, finger resting on the tiny red button...
No. Better not to tell them.
"Madam P, what about miss Relena?"
~
Why did she have the most irritating feeling this had happened before?
Lets see, she mused to herself. Pain and unconsciousness. Yep. I've been here.
With that, Leila sighed and opened her eyes, glancing around the empty hospital room before dragging herself into a sitting position. What had happened this time? Another youma? Chaos came back for more? A Minako kitchen invasion? She was getting very tired of being in pain and falling unconscious. Kami, she thought to herself. I faint like a girly-girl.
Not that she had anything against girly-girls. Ami was a girly-girl.
Excuse me?
Leila winced.
For your information I'm a lot smarter than those - those bimbo type females! Ami snapped at the back of her head. Why didn't you say Minako?
Because I'm not a weakling. Minako said cheerfully. Ami turned and fixed her with a Look. It wasn't an angry or upset or even pissed off look. By all means, it shouldn't have been disturbing at all.
It did, however, bear a faint resemblance to Setsuna's Looks.
Eh, heh heh heh... Not that you're one, Ami-chan...Minako added, backing off. Rei walked on, cracking her knuckles.
Tell me when I can sic her, she said, smiling fondly at her usually timid friend. Ami smiled back and ushered her past.
Minako shrieked and ran.
"Right." Leila announced to no one in particular. "I don't care. You don't exist."
She'd have to figure out how to get rid of them. They were becoming bad for her health. Mental health, that was.
Leila sighed once more, blinking tired eyes and glancing around the room, eyes blurring as her hit hit the pillow...
~
"Hello."
Aha! The stream in the forest again. Which meant she was dreaming. "I know you!" Leila announced with a triumphant smile, not even bothering to turn around. "You're the guy from my last dream!"
"That's nice," he commented with a laugh. "I don't suppose you remember my actual name."
Leila felt a sense of shame and sheepishness, which she pushed away. It wasn't like she actually got his name in the first place, so there was no need to feel guilty. Right? "Hmph. Not my fault is it? You never gave it to me."
"And I never got to see your pretty face did I? So it seems we're even."
Gods help her. Whatever else he was, he was a flirt. Once upon a time she wouldn't have had a problem with flirts - she used to be one. But it had been two years since then, and she'd grown entitled to look down on such things. Or so she told herself, that was. To her mortification, she found herself blushing - in a pleased sort of way.
What the hell? Leila didn't think she was the type who fell for a mysterious voice, but this - !
That's it. She thought grimly. One more giddy lovesick romantic thought and you'll be marching yourself straight to Milliardo for that beating - Oh no missy, don't you DARE turn around -
She turned around. Being the stupid idiot she was, she turned around. I will never forgive you for this, she vowed to her raging hormones. Never.
Of course, all her thoughts of self-reproach withered away when she saw -
"So what's your name?" She asked - blurted, the still rational part of her brain told her in disgust, even as she eyed the broad shouldered man.
Correction; broad compared to her. In a way he was slender as well. And well muscled all around. And tall. And handsome. And -
Yeah yeah, he's a looker. The rational part of her thought, not quite subdued. What about it? There's something seriously wrong with you, Leila.
Leila ignored all voices, instead examining the man before her. PROPERLY.
The man leaning casually against a nearby trree, grinning impudently at her, was indeed a looker. Okay, Leila admitted to herself. He wasn't just a looker - he was downright hot. So what? Duo was too. And so were the rest of his friends, come to think of it. And Milliardo. And Mamoru. And -
Of course, Minako decided to point out. None of them are anything AS hot as this guy...
Shut up! She yelled mentally, imagining Ami's world encyclopedia and willing it to fall on Minako, who let out one last shriek before she was muffled satisfactorily.
"No flirting." She told him dryly. "I'm on the rebound." Of course, she couldn't help but notice his strong frame and broad build, and well-defined muscles. The sunlight streamed through the trees, defining THOSE aspects quite clearly. The more interesting features (or at least to her), were his shoulder length black hair, neatly trimmed and gently brushing his collar bone, and his eyes, which glowed a strange, but beautiful golden colour.
To her imminent annoyance, (and pleasure), he laughed. "It's nice to know you're free." He replied jauntily. "So who was the lucky guy stupid enough to give you up, fire-eyes?"
She opened her mouth, and then closed it. "Fire-eyes?"
He nodded, somewhat absently, catching her eyes with his own. "Fire eyes," He said dreamily, even as he looked at her intensely. "Granted, they're emerald fires," he murmured, "But they reflect your spirit."
That was it. Leila was getting seriously freaked out here. For one, she was acting like she was, well, attracted to him.
Okay. So she was. That wasn't the point! The point was, that she didn't want to be attracted to him.
Leila. Ami said, exasperated.
Leave her alone, Rei said, defending her. She has every right to feel that way. I wouldn't like it either!
But you're Rei. Ami responded. You hate not having control.
And Leila's any different? Rei demanded.
"So." Leila blinked, and suddenly the man was in front of her, and all too close for her comfort. "Any idea how you got here? You seem to fade in and out."
"Well, if you consider the fact this is just a seriously wierd dream," Leila replied, stepping back and tripping slightly. Automatically his hand shot out, steadying her. She gasped, jerking from the feelings the touch gave her, before everything blurred -
~
"Excuse me?"
The woman said hotly.
Rei, back off. Makoto sent urgently. He isn't worth it.
"...Yes, quite pathetic." Jadeite said, enjoying himself immensely. "However, we are not here to judge the competency of others. Truly my lady, are you so certain you wish to ride ahead on the hunt?"
It had been three months since the ball, and the beginning of the stay of Earth's younger court. Makoto had left a week afterwards - the Gaian preistesses had wanted their most powerful charge to complete her training. Rei had left with her - As a sorceress of Mars she was interested in the initiation ceremonies. In fact, for one reason or another, Queen Serenity managed to have the entire inner court sent away until the sensation from the Terran Court had died down...
And it was just as well, Mako noted as she saw her best friend tense involuntarily. It was a slight movement, almost unnoticeable except to those who truly knew her. It seemed Serenity had been cautious about Endymion's discreet approaches to her eldest daughter. 'Usagi' had left with Minako and Ami on a tour of the Outer System - to 'improve her cultural education', Ami obviously being the tutor and chaperone, and Minako her companion sister.
The moment they'd managed to get back together, they'd all discussed the Queen's interesting reluctance to have the courts meet.
It seemed she was aware of divine meddling too. And she didn't like it one little bit.
Which was why Makoto was glad of the veil and cloak she wore. The veil was an ornamental but useful half-veil, a hairpiece that held her hair back and covered her eyes. While she was not a true initiate (being a princess meant changing a few rules), the veil - an almost exact copy of the one she wore for the ball - indicated she was a priestess of Gaia.
The half-cloak indicated her status as a Healer. It reached half-way down her back, with a hood. Generally they could be any colour, but were always marked out by the silver patterning on the rim. Right now she was wearing a blue one to match her veil. They'd been given to her to indicate she had finally completed her training.
As Minako had said, that was a good thing. While the Terran court knew the identities of the inners, none of them had actually seen Makoto's face. And with the strange things going on, Minako needed someone she could trust to keep an eye on Endymion and the generals. Someone they couldn't recognise if they saw her face to face.
"Personally, I do not truly see why not," she said gently, before Rei could blow up. The mysterious air around her tended to gather attention. She found people paid more attention to her - now she held a more respected position and title. Being a princess was something one was born to. A priestess was something one earned.
"Well, my lady," Jadeite said graciously to her, albeit slightly cautious. The Terran court had also grown less suspicious of her. Apparently being a priestess allowed one to act more mysterious and knowledgeable than most. It was a comforting thought, knowing one was superior, Makoto thought wryly to herself. "It would be safer to ride with the other ladies - at the center of the party. To ride ahead would compromise your safety."
"And our consciences." Zoisite slid in smoothly. "Would you not ride with the rest, if only to ease our hearts?"
Makoto smiled. He had a silver tongue, truly. But, as her friends knew, Makoto was a very straightforward person. She didn't get swayed easily. Not when she didn't want to. And she fully intended on riding ahead with her friend. If that presence the queen had sensed was still lurking about, who better to deal with it than a white witch who was completely at home within any forest? And of course, a priestess with Rei's abilities?
"Your concern is flattering, my lords." She said, inclining her head and offering a slight smile. "But though you may be skilled hunters, Lady Mars does have greater knowledge of this forest than you. Enough to stay out of trouble and skilled enough with her horse to keep it under control."
"And besides," She added quickly, even as they opened their mouths, "Lady Mars and myself have hunted before, and though our prowess may not be as great as yours, it should be sufficient. Obvious both the lady and her horse are restless - the hunt will be good for them. And I myself will accompany her. My knowledge of healing would be useful anyway, in case one of the party are injured in the hunt."
"Perhaps," Jadeite conceded, smile fading. He was losing. "But surely the Lady Mars-"
"Is sufficiently skilled enough with her weapons to protect me should the need arise." Makoto finished off smoothly. What a laugh that was! Any Lunarian could tell him she was one of the best fighters of the solar system - weapon or no weapon! She certainly didn't need Rei to *protect* her! And besides, she wasn't called 'The Huntress' for nothing..."After all, it is much more efficient than directing your attention away from the hunt, though I doubt we would come to harm anyway. After all, your skills-" Men, especially all noblemen, there being over twenty in the hunting party, welcomed ego boosting. "Being quite admired throughout the region, should keep us from harm in the first place." The Terran Court's skill and recklessness of hunting (suicidal idiocy, she called it), had even reached the Moon. They were good. Just not good enough.
Hmph! If everything went according to plan, it would be Rei with the first kill, certainly no large headed general! Makoto knew full well that Rei's archery skills were at least thrice that of any man in the party. They'd all be in for quite a surprise.
~
The dark peacefulness of night called her, pulled her, clawed her with the desperation of a starving man, trying to pull her away from the gentle hold of light's sadness. She felt like laughing and crying - both were ways of peacefulness and beauty, both hid sorrows she could not fathom.
The dark caressed her.
A shift. Arms encircled her, whirling her through the ballroom to the music, their dancing exquisite and delicate. Shift. A night of stars above her as she leaned comfortably into an embrace...A cheek placed beside hers, evoking contentment and attraction at the same time...
The light cradled her.
A flash. "Who are you?" A girl's voice asked innocently. "How'd you find my garden?"... A small hand slipping into her own, a small, warming smile she could not see, but feel.Another flash. Running this time, footsteps matching her own stride for stride, determined to reach their destination before - what?
The smell of flowers lingered in the air...
"Not as beautiful or magnificent as yourself," He whispered, pressing the roses into her hand, his own touching her cheek tentatively. The fragrance of the alluring perfume entranced her...
Consisting of summer flowers and dry herbs as a girl helped her sit up. "Drink this. You'll be fine." The girl's voice, older this time, had a soothing quality, comforting her.
Steel clashed...
As she watched him in his deadly duel, even as he and his companion's skills dazzled the silver court, his perfectly toned physique drawing her eyes to him, and him only...
As she laughed, dancing away. "You've mastered every weapon possible for you except the sword!" She laughed lightly. Still, the girl's skills were developing rapidly... Blades dancing off one another as the two faced off, genty teasing one another, enjoying the challenge and competitiveness.
Veins ran with exhilaration...
As his own lips leant down to hers...
As the girl grinned recklessly at her. "Let's kick some youma ass!" She laughed in reply, adrenaline rushing through them as they prepared for a double teaming...
Voices murmured within her memory...
"You're very elusive, my lady."
"For goodness sake, Rei! Why are you getting so riled up about some guy with a stick up his -"
"Your hair is as subtle as night."
"Don't be silly, Rei-chan. 'Sides, I love your eyes. They're so pretty."
"Don't tell me you've never had lovers."
"Please don't tell me you're thinking about Yuuichirou! There's nothing wrong with him, but no girl like you's gonna want a doormat. "
"I fear I have become addicted to your presence."
"I always love company, Rei! You know I cook way too much for myself, and 'Sagi-chan's down with flu."
Dynamic blue eyes lingered with desire and hidden messages...
Dazzling, no, enchanting emerald eyes flashed with concern and pleasure...
And violet eyes opened as Hino Rei inhaled sharply, before releasing her breath. She sat up calmly, staring straight ahead, hands clasped lightly in her lap.
A few minutes later, she got up, dressing for the day ahead, paying no heed to what was just another garbled, but unimportant vision. She recieved them often.
Pausing in front of the mirror, she hesitated, eyes troubled.
Shaking her head, Rei left the room. Breakfast had to be prepared.
~
Tiami watched warily as her master continually paced around his 'workbench', drumming his fingers agonisingly slowly - but precisely, she noted with distaste. He hadn't missed a beat yet.
And it was, for lack of better words, thoroughly irking her. She wanted to grab those stupid fingers and break them - if it stopped the tapping, that was.
Knowing him, it probably wouldn't. Jadeite was terrifyingly persistant.
That, and she'd probably die before even snapping the first finger.
And right now, he was in contemplative mood. Generally, people avoided him when he was 'contemplating'. She hesitated a moment, silently reviewing her little 'speech' in her head.
"We were -" She paused, checking herself. "I was unable to gain any tangible information or recordings of the boarding during the ambush along the Colony one - Earth shuttle flight route. While we have some poor visual recordings from the OZ mobile doll units, I was unable to extract any memories from the human-youma hybrids."
It was well known that, even after the youma had died, Queen Beryl had been able to summon up the youma's last memories. They were usually a source of valuable information - particularly when dealing with the senshi. "It seems the human part of the hybrids generally overrides the youma part. The mixed brainwaves make it impossible for their memories to be correctly extracted."
"And the youma you left in charge - Kali, was it? What of her? No memories?"
She flinched inwardly. "Kali's abilities were psychic based." She said simply. In the back of her mind, anger and irritation warred with one another. Kali had been a good youma, one of her more loyal and intelligent officers. Her psychic powers were what had made her especially unique, and had given them more than a small edge when infiltrating OZ and conducting espionage. She would be hard to replace. Apparently she had a brother - but that one was quite a character...
"Generally, the protection those abilities give her last after death."
Jadeite nodded. Having telekinetic powers himself, he probably understood more about psychic abilities than her. He glanced in her direction and continued to pace.
"Tell me your observations."
Tiami immediately doled out her observations. "The fact that the shuttle exploded, destroying itself, the youma aboard, and a large number of our mobile dolls nearby indicates a deliberate self-destruct, which should have been impossible. Our intelligence sources indicated that the entire crew would generally be situated in the crew deck and the proximity around it. Except, of course, the attendants and passenger service, of which there few, obviously having only one passenger."
"And those were our own people." Jadeite mused.
Tiami nodded before realising his back was to her."Yessir. And those were in the passenger area, and made sure to depart to the appointed checkpoints on the shuttle when we boarded. And obviously Ms. Peacecraft would not know the security overrides."
The room's other occupant snorted. "In another words," He said in a mild voice (which she was not fooled by - he was testing her). "There was no-one - who could have done it - close enough to the main computer to be able to pull off the self-destruct before we took out the main power in the shuttle."
Game, set, and match. Or so he thought. "No one we knew of, sir." Tiami corrected. She paused, before continuing with her observations - "However, we had assumed the crew was in the crew deck, and this was supported by the fact we did not encounter any crew while boarding. However, that means that we encountered no presence of enemy crew at all. That, coupled with the self-destruct, indicates -"
"That somehow they predicted the ambush."
"Yes. I first considered that they may have set the shuttle on autopilot, with a skeleton crew who would set off the self-destruct, but if that was so, our people would have alerted us. However, the attendants would not have seen the crew once they'd boarded..."
"They somehow found out we were coming. And they prepared." Jadeite said, in a flat voice. Goosebumps ran up and down her arms. "Their reaction was - more ingenious than I expected of them, certainly."
Tiami nodded. No use disagreeing with the authority.
"Still," he continued, the tapping slowing for a brief moment, "Failure it may have been, the ambush did allows us to test the efficiency of our hybrids."
A corner of her mouth twitched downwards, and she stood a little straighter, glad he couldn't see it. Jadeite had an inkling of what she felt about the hybrids. But he obviously didn't want to let her think lowly of his precious creations. Well, she could tell him exactly what he could do with those so-called magnificent discoveries. Take them and shove them up his-
"The hybrids?" he prompted.
"If you'll forgive me, they certainly lack in -" brains"-decision making abilities." she said smoothly. "Though they are highly efficient killers." That, they were. Considering how weak humans were, it was interesting how perseverent they could be, considering those that had survived Kali's - ah - bout of impatience.
And the fact they survived the altering process in the first place."They make excellent back-up, and are good as" cannon fodder:"-a unit designed for direct and heavy assaults as opposed to, say, espionage."Work which requires at least a low level of intelligence. Which was what Jadite had designed them for in the first place. "However, it is my opinion-"Not that he'd prize it much "- that they cannot function properly without close supervision, which may be simply inconvenient."
Tiami cringed inwardly, remembering the stupidest blunder they made, somehow managing to find themselves in the men's bathroom, because they were idiotic enough to listen to some obviously directionally challenged gir-
Her eyes widened. Girl. A girl had told them... What was their description? Red-haired, green eyed, quite short... Outwardly, she awaited the High General's response to her evalutaion. Inwardly, she started seething. Stupid! Stupid! How could she have forgotten! None of the attendants had that description! In fact, she'd personally ordered them to choose quiet colours, so as to be relatively unnoticed. Immediately, she decided not to tell Jadeite. Her position within the new Dark Kingdom was tenuous at best - and if Lord Jadeite found out she'd missed such a simple thing...
"I had designed them so they would be easy to command." her Lord said aloud. "Though it seems they may be a little - too compliant. What of their attention spans?"
"They had a tendency to go off on tangents, as opposed to focusing on instructions." Something the girl must have realised, to be able to send over fifty of them on a wild goose chase...
The man sighed. "Ah well. Obviously the prototypes need some work. More loyalty, less cunning, more comprehensive abilities..."
Tiami nodded. "Yessir. You may wish to give them some minor decision-making abilities." Gods forbid. She would hate to see what sort of stupidity those things could get up to if they could actually make original decisions.
"If that's all, I wish for you to place a surveillance on the Princess Relena."
Tiami nodded. "Yessir. I will report back as soon a possible."
"Good." He said vaguely. "And of my search in Japan."
She hesitated. "Rei is a common name," she began slowly. This was a subject she could not show any weakness on. "And her reborn form may harbour a different name. Our intelligence is sorting through the Japanese records, and we are currently narrowing down the field."
Of course, considering the traditional Japanese look was pale and dark-haired, it wasn't really helping much. On the other hand, half the population was immediately cancelled out, seeing as her gender was pretty damn certain.
"Mm." He said then, sounding very distant. He stopped, gazing vaguely at the swirling vortex that suddenly appeared at the end of the table. Curious as she was, Tiami tried hard not to look.
"Look." He said, gesturing abruptly. Another girl appeared - tall, with reddish brown hair, defined face, and...
Ah. The eyes.
"Jupiter?" She asked, curiously. At least, that was the only senshi she knew of with green eyes. The Sailor Senshi Jupiter looked nothing like her, from what she remembered. For one thing, she was shorter. And the hair was a lot redder. Of course, that could just be the disguise magic...
"Yes. I believe she may go by the name of Makoto. If she were to have a European name..."
"It would be Sincerity?" She prompted, quickly translating it. "Most likely a variation though. Maybe Verity."
"Mm. It's most likely she would be in Japan, though. It's where the other three were." He added, more to himself than anything. "I want you find her. She takes first priority above all."
"Yessir." She frowned then, thinking that over. "Even over Mars?"
"First priority." His words were final, cold. "Find her, then eliminate her. Any questions."
Tiami thought. Eliminate Jupiter. Easily done, once she was found. After all, Jupiter had always been easy to dispose of. More so than the other senshi. She made herself an easy target.
But why was it important she be killed first? Wouldn't it be wiser to eliminate the threats?
Or was he trying to demoralize them by picking off the stray ones? It was be even easier to kill Mercury then, once they had her. And considering she was the tactician behind the senshi, it would be strategically wise to dispose of her first.
"Why Jupiter?" She asked then, a bit puzzled.
Jadeite scowled abruptly, and the vortex disappeared. He swung around furiously, even as the table completely shattered, the many fragmented pieces thrusting themselves at her violently.
It was only the fact that she had once served as a personal servant of Queen Beryl herself that kept Tiami on her feet, even as she looked ahead, stance at ease, but alert -
- As they whistled narrowly past her face.
She was starting to get used to these tests. "I would understand better if it was, say Mercury," she continued as if nothing had happened. "But as far as I was aware, she's not even much of a pest."
"You're wrong, Tiami." Jadeite said, vaguely, his rage subsiding. "You may not remember much of the Silver Millenium, but I do. Jupiter may not have been the most powerful or lethal of the senshi..."
He frowned, remembering the harmless waif he had thought nothing of, until that last battle, when she had seen her friends fall and completely, irrevocably lost control, even as the deadliest of vines from the farthest reaches of the galaxies shot from the ground, the ancient trees themselves uprooting themselves from the ground in their mistress' time of pain. The vines ripping through Nephrite at her command, in vengeance for his betrayal, rending Zoicite, who was already weakened by the - dead - Mars, from limb to limb. The screaming of the remaining youma army as the dying Uranus and Neptune lent her their magic, using her empathy to bring the very moon to life to avenge it's fallen children.
He had barely escaped, only to face Venus, her sword dripping with Kunzite's blood...
And had finally realised the fear traitors felt when they faced their victims.
"But she is certainly the most dangerous, if only from her ability to seem harmless."
What had they called her? Little Mother, wasn't it? Tigresses were mothers too. And if she was a tigress, the senshi were her cubs. He would not be able to reach them until he dealt with her.
Her empathy.
No matter how far away she could be, she would certainly sense it if he were to go to Rei.
His mouth twisted. Besides. He had an old score to settle.
